Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Friday strongly defended India’s participation in the Zapad 2025 military drills in Belarus, lashing out at Western criticism and cautioning the European Union against trying to dictate terms to sovereign states.
“I would like to say that I would prefer not to comment on the relationships between third countries, as I have already noted, but I'm ready to comment on the relations between Russia and India in particular. We are bound by strong time-tested bonds of friendship. Our relations, I emphasize, are self-sufficient. Their truly inexhaustible potential is progressively realized for the benefit of the peoples of both countries, regardless of fluctuations in the geopolitical environment,” Zakharova said during her weekly briefing in Moscow.
The Russian spokesperson underlined that the foundation of the “specially privileged strategic partnership” between India and Russia rests on mutual respect, equality, and consideration of each other’s interests, and that it is aimed at promoting a “unifying, non-confrontational agenda” globally.
Russia rejects EU objections
Zakharova criticised the European Union and Nato allies for objecting to New Delhi’s role in the drills. “We welcome New Delhi's participation in the Russian-Belarusian exercises. Any so-called concerns expressed in this regard from outside are frankly unfounded and deliberately contrived. Essentially it is just another form of brazen pressure on our Indian friends in attempts to forbid them, imagine that, from cooperating, interacting and communicating with Russia,” she said.
Questioning Western attempts to interfere in India’s foreign policy choices, she asked: “When will the West finally understand the futility and frankly the ridiculousness of trying to dictate to states that pursue a sovereign foreign policy course? That is of course an open question, especially when it comes to such powers as India.”
Zakharova also stressed that military and military-technical cooperation between New Delhi and Moscow “has never been directed against third countries” but has instead sought to “ensure national security interests, strengthen international stability and peace.”
EU cautions India on drills and oil imports
The Russian defence comes in the wake of pointed remarks from European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who warned that India’s participation in Zapad 2025 and its continued purchase of discounted Russian oil could complicate the bloc’s negotiations for a free trade agreement with New Delhi.
“Participating in military exercises, purchases of oil – all these are obstacles to our cooperation when it comes to deepening the ties,” Kallas said earlier this week. She added, however, that Brussels did not expect India to “completely decouple” from Russia.
The EU, which is seeking to finalise a free trade deal with India by the end of 2025, views Moscow’s growing military exercises as provocative. The Zapad manoeuvres, held jointly with Belarus and involving Russian allies such as Iran, are the first since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The drills, staged partly near Nato borders, have triggered heightened security measures in Eastern Europe, with Poland recently sealing its frontier with Belarus after drone incidents.
India rejects EU criticism
India has pushed back against Brussels’ concerns, pointing out that other Western nations have also been associated with the drills. Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday told reporters that “several other countries including Nato countries such as the United States, Turkey and Hungary are also or have also participated in this exercise as observers.”
He added that New Delhi’s participation in Zapad 2025 was consistent with its established military engagements. The ministry of defence had earlier outlined that the Indian contingent, comprising 65 personnel from the Army, Air Force and Navy, joined the multilateral exercise at Nizhniy, Russia, from September 12-16.
According to the ministry, the Indian team included troops from the Kumaon Regiment and other arms, and the drills focused on interoperability, joint tactics, counter-terrorism operations, and company-level conventional warfare missions.
“The multilateral Exercise ZAPAD 2025 is aimed at enhancing military cooperation, improving interoperability, and providing a platform for participating armies to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures in the domains of conventional warfare and counter-terrorism operations,” the ministry said in a statement.
Broader EU sanctions push
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday proposed fresh sanctions targeting Moscow’s liquefied natural gas exports, shadow oil fleet, and major energy companies.
“It is time to turn off the tap on LNG,” she said in a video statement, urging the bloc’s 27 members to endorse the new package swiftly. The EU has already imposed 18 rounds of sanctions since 2022, hitting over 2,500 entities and individuals, including President Vladimir Putin , Russian lawmakers, oligarchs, and state-owned firms.
Von der Leyen insisted the measures were working, claiming Russia’s “overheated war economy is coming to its limit.” She also said Brussels aimed to completely phase out Russian LNG imports by January 2027.
Foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas added that beyond energy, the sanctions package should also target those complicit in “abducting Ukrainian children” to so-called re-education camps, calling the deportations “beyond description.”
Zapad 2025: Defensive drills or threat?
Russia has consistently maintained that Zapad exercises are defensive in nature. President Vladimir Putin has said the aim is to “repel potential aggression against the Union State,” the political-military structure linking Russia and Belarus.
Zakharova reiterated this line, saying the drills were meant to safeguard stability and counter aggression. She argued that the presence of Nato observers should help “debunk Western myths about the drills’ aggressive nature.”
However, in Europe, the perception remains wary. With Iran’s involvement and Russia’s heightened military posturing, NATO allies view the manoeuvres as a test of Moscow’s readiness and intent amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
India’s balancing act!
For India, participation in Zapad 2025 underscores its policy of strategic autonomy, maintaining ties with Russia while deepening engagement with the United States and Europe.
New Delhi has consistently defended its purchases of Russian oil, citing affordability and energy security. Officials have also maintained that military cooperation with Moscow is longstanding and not aimed at any third country.
At the same time, India continues to expand defence and trade ties with Western partners, including joint drills with the US, France, and Japan, and progress in free trade negotiations with the EU and UK.
“I would like to say that I would prefer not to comment on the relationships between third countries, as I have already noted, but I'm ready to comment on the relations between Russia and India in particular. We are bound by strong time-tested bonds of friendship. Our relations, I emphasize, are self-sufficient. Their truly inexhaustible potential is progressively realized for the benefit of the peoples of both countries, regardless of fluctuations in the geopolitical environment,” Zakharova said during her weekly briefing in Moscow.
The Russian spokesperson underlined that the foundation of the “specially privileged strategic partnership” between India and Russia rests on mutual respect, equality, and consideration of each other’s interests, and that it is aimed at promoting a “unifying, non-confrontational agenda” globally.
⚡️🇮🇳🇷🇺🇧🇾 RIDICULOUS West Pressuring India for Taking Part in #Zapad2025 Drills in Belarus - Russian MFA Spox Zakharova pic.twitter.com/22dIKEg6eb
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) September 19, 2025
Russia rejects EU objections
Zakharova criticised the European Union and Nato allies for objecting to New Delhi’s role in the drills. “We welcome New Delhi's participation in the Russian-Belarusian exercises. Any so-called concerns expressed in this regard from outside are frankly unfounded and deliberately contrived. Essentially it is just another form of brazen pressure on our Indian friends in attempts to forbid them, imagine that, from cooperating, interacting and communicating with Russia,” she said.
Questioning Western attempts to interfere in India’s foreign policy choices, she asked: “When will the West finally understand the futility and frankly the ridiculousness of trying to dictate to states that pursue a sovereign foreign policy course? That is of course an open question, especially when it comes to such powers as India.”
Zakharova also stressed that military and military-technical cooperation between New Delhi and Moscow “has never been directed against third countries” but has instead sought to “ensure national security interests, strengthen international stability and peace.”
EU cautions India on drills and oil imports
The Russian defence comes in the wake of pointed remarks from European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who warned that India’s participation in Zapad 2025 and its continued purchase of discounted Russian oil could complicate the bloc’s negotiations for a free trade agreement with New Delhi.
“Participating in military exercises, purchases of oil – all these are obstacles to our cooperation when it comes to deepening the ties,” Kallas said earlier this week. She added, however, that Brussels did not expect India to “completely decouple” from Russia.
The EU, which is seeking to finalise a free trade deal with India by the end of 2025, views Moscow’s growing military exercises as provocative. The Zapad manoeuvres, held jointly with Belarus and involving Russian allies such as Iran, are the first since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The drills, staged partly near Nato borders, have triggered heightened security measures in Eastern Europe, with Poland recently sealing its frontier with Belarus after drone incidents.
India rejects EU criticism
India has pushed back against Brussels’ concerns, pointing out that other Western nations have also been associated with the drills. Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday told reporters that “several other countries including Nato countries such as the United States, Turkey and Hungary are also or have also participated in this exercise as observers.”
He added that New Delhi’s participation in Zapad 2025 was consistent with its established military engagements. The ministry of defence had earlier outlined that the Indian contingent, comprising 65 personnel from the Army, Air Force and Navy, joined the multilateral exercise at Nizhniy, Russia, from September 12-16.
According to the ministry, the Indian team included troops from the Kumaon Regiment and other arms, and the drills focused on interoperability, joint tactics, counter-terrorism operations, and company-level conventional warfare missions.
“The multilateral Exercise ZAPAD 2025 is aimed at enhancing military cooperation, improving interoperability, and providing a platform for participating armies to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures in the domains of conventional warfare and counter-terrorism operations,” the ministry said in a statement.
Broader EU sanctions push
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday proposed fresh sanctions targeting Moscow’s liquefied natural gas exports, shadow oil fleet, and major energy companies.
“It is time to turn off the tap on LNG,” she said in a video statement, urging the bloc’s 27 members to endorse the new package swiftly. The EU has already imposed 18 rounds of sanctions since 2022, hitting over 2,500 entities and individuals, including President Vladimir Putin , Russian lawmakers, oligarchs, and state-owned firms.
Von der Leyen insisted the measures were working, claiming Russia’s “overheated war economy is coming to its limit.” She also said Brussels aimed to completely phase out Russian LNG imports by January 2027.
Foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas added that beyond energy, the sanctions package should also target those complicit in “abducting Ukrainian children” to so-called re-education camps, calling the deportations “beyond description.”
Zapad 2025: Defensive drills or threat?
Russia has consistently maintained that Zapad exercises are defensive in nature. President Vladimir Putin has said the aim is to “repel potential aggression against the Union State,” the political-military structure linking Russia and Belarus.
Zakharova reiterated this line, saying the drills were meant to safeguard stability and counter aggression. She argued that the presence of Nato observers should help “debunk Western myths about the drills’ aggressive nature.”
However, in Europe, the perception remains wary. With Iran’s involvement and Russia’s heightened military posturing, NATO allies view the manoeuvres as a test of Moscow’s readiness and intent amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
India’s balancing act!
For India, participation in Zapad 2025 underscores its policy of strategic autonomy, maintaining ties with Russia while deepening engagement with the United States and Europe.
New Delhi has consistently defended its purchases of Russian oil, citing affordability and energy security. Officials have also maintained that military cooperation with Moscow is longstanding and not aimed at any third country.
At the same time, India continues to expand defence and trade ties with Western partners, including joint drills with the US, France, and Japan, and progress in free trade negotiations with the EU and UK.
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